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Atlanta

Atlanta Then and Now

When Sherman burned Atlanta on his Civil War march to the sea, he couldn't have known that this capital of the South would rise up from the ashes to become one of America's thoroughly modern cities. From job creation to educational standards, sporting and artistic opportunities to quality affordable housing, Atlanta is a place that offers a standard of living many cities cannot match.

The Employment Engine of the Southeast

Atlanta can safely be described as the "employment engine of the southeast." The city is number one on the DRI/McGraw Hill list of the top 10 metropolitan areas for job creation, 1995 -2000, with 267,600 new jobs created. And, its low unemployment rate of 3.1 percent is a good indication of the city's economic strength.

Atlanta's population grew by almost one million in the 90's, with a corresponding increase in per capita personal income, from $20,799 in 1990 to $29,261 in 1998.

Job development has kept pace with Atlanta's population growth, and that's a big factor in Atlanta's success. For example, Atlanta saw the creation of 130 new companies in 1990, a number that has grown each year. In 1998, more than 200 new companies were created. And Atlanta is a player in the global economy: 36 international companies set up shop in Atlanta; by 1998, that annual number had risen to 44.

Atlanta is a city wired to the rest of the world: International passengers traveling through the city's Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport doubled from nearly two million in 1990 to more than four and a quarter million in 1998, a striking indicator of Atlanta's growth and vibrancy.

Atlanta as a Community

A sense of community is the hallmark of Atlanta's success in the late nineties. In what has been a radical reinvention of their city over the last couple of decades, Atlantans have been careful not to lose that sense of community, while constantly adapting and upgrading it to suit the needs of the world we live in.

In basic instances, such as housing and education, growth has kept pace with the highest standards. For example, in 1990, the total number of housing permits granted was 26,636. In 1998, the figure was 56,492. But the key statistic here is that, in 1998, 43,586 of these permits were for single-family homes. There can be no real argument that in American and sociological terms, the family unit is still the best guarantor of stability in a community, which is why such a high premium has been put on the absorption of families into the body politic of the city.

Career Opportunities Abound

So you'd like a job, and not just any old job. Atlanta's list of employers is growing by the moment, given the sparkling potential for new businesses in the area. Some Atlanta companies are the benchmark by which all other companies in their field judge themselves. One only has to think of such global giants as Coca-Cola or CNN.

Among the employers of Atlanta are Delta Airlines, BellSouth, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Kroger, NationsBank, Columbia/HCA, SunTrust Banks, UPS, and General Motors, along with the aforementioned CNN, Coca-Cola, TBS, and IBM.

Atlanta is attracting investment and entrepreneurs at a steadily increasing rate. Qualified and educated employees are always tops on any successful companies list. And Atlanta growing strong from the successes of all its citizens can only grow stronger.

Educational Opportunities

More than a third of Atlantans have bachelor's degrees, second only in the nation to Boston (which stands a mere percentage point higher).

If continuing your education is important to you, you'll find ample opportunity here. Atlanta is rightly proud of the large and diverse number of academic institutions within its environs. These include Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta University Center, American Intercontinental University, Spelman College, Oglethorpe University, the Institute of Paper Science & Technology, and Georgia State University.

Play Time

Network sports commentator Bob Costas described Atlanta as the sports capital of the world. Even if this isn't strictly true, it would be true that a sports fan who is tired of Atlanta isn't a sports fan anymore.

The centerpiece of recent events was unquestionably the 1996 Olympics. But a close second was the 1994 Super Bowl, not to mention the 1996 Paralympic Games. The Basketball Final Four scheduled for 2002 will undoubtedly be a huge crowd pleaser, but it's a safe bet that when millennial and football fever meet, the 2000 Super Bowl will be the biggest draw.

Atlanta is represented in each of the big four sports, and is home to the Falcons, the Hawks, the Braves, and starting this year, the Thrashers hockey team.

For those who like to play as well as watch, Atlanta has more than 100 public and private golf courses, and more than 200 tennis clubs. The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association is the largest recreational league in the nation. Under the blue southern sky, Lakes Lanier and Allatoona, and the Chattahochee River, offer boating, skiing, rafting, fishing, and canoeing. Also for the outdoor lover are camping and mountain biking, with a number of sites and trails within easy reach.

The foothills of the Appalachian mountains, a few hours away, are ideal for hikers, climbers, bikers, and whitewater enthusiasts. Snow skiers will find resorts within a two-hour drive. And the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are both just a few hours from Atlanta, when you want to get away from it all at short notice. And don't forget the wide choice of parks that Atlanta and its environs has to offer. Local, state, and national parks are furnished with natural and cultural resources distinct to Atlanta and Georgia.

So, see you at the Super Bowl. No, make that the golf course. Or maybe you'd prefer a leisurely afternoon fishing. How about a hike? You could grow old amid the choices.

Art, Music, and More-Enjoy the Abundance

The range of artistic and cultural opportunities in Atlanta in phenomenal. In fact, arts and cultural organizations combine to become the city's sixth largest employer, even larger than Turner Broadcasting System (CNN, TCM, TBS, TNT), IBM, or Coca-Cola.

So, what to do? Music lovers will know that the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is one of the best in the country; and every other type of music is available from a host of venues. Atlanta claims more than 100 musical ensembles, jazz, classical, country, rock, et al. Not to forget the Atlanta Opera.

Atlanta also boasts more than 100 dance organizations (studios, schools, and halls), as well as the renowned Atlanta Ballet. In addition, more than 100 theater production companies are based in Atlanta. And among the city's 50 art galleries and museums is the High Museum of Art, evolving into one of the nation's premier galleries with its memorable architecture and policy of buying and commissioning the best art available from all over the world.

All told, there are more than 500 artistic and cultural organizations in Atlanta, producing and presenting virtually every discipline of art. These include literary and media groups; museums of history and education; multidisciplinary centers for art, music, and culture; dozens of regional and local arts festivals and celebrations; and, last but not least, cultural organizations representing more than 30 distinct ethnicities, as Atlanta truly becomes cosmopolitan in the face of the new millennium.

And a point worth noting is that the average cost of a ticket is $20. Which means that, in Atlanta, you don't have to be rich to be a part of a world that was once reserved for the wealthy.

A Major City With Major Plusses

In short, Atlanta is a city that has many major plusses: solid and growing economy; city and local government that manages this growth; good jobs, housing, education. And a first class social infrastructure. It is a city with a place in history and a promising future.